A group of ROCOR clergy and parishioners, led by the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad – Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York – is continuing its pilgrimage to the holy sites of Russia. On the road from Diveevo, the pilgrims visited Murom, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Godenovo, Khotkovo, and finally arrived in Sergiev Posad, in order to take part in the national celebrations for the feast day of Venerable Sergus, Abbot & Wonderworker of Radonezh. On Tuesday, July 18, the feast of the finding of the precious relics of Venerable Sergius, Metropolitan Hilarion and a number of hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church, concelebrated with His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow & All Russia, who officiated at Divine Liturgy in Holy Dormition Cathedral of Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra.

On Monday, July 10, the eve of the feast of Venerable Sergius & Herman of Valaam (July 11 n.s.), Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY celebrated its own feast, the tonsure of Riassophore Monk John (Weeks) to the Lesser Schema and Novice Stephen (Manduke) to the Riassa. This grace-filled event took place just as the Holy Church is finishing the Apostles’ Fast. For the elder fathers of the monastery brotherhood, this event was not only a joy as they see their ranks replenished and strengthened, but also a reminder of their own vows and – very importantly – a witness to the many pilgrims who perhaps for the first time were able to observe such a commitment to Christ. 

On Friday, July 7, the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, His Eminence Gabriel, Archbishop of Montreal & Canada, celebrated Divine Liturgy in St. John the Forerunner Cathedral in Brooklyn, NY, on the occasion of the lesser patronal feast day. The cathedral choir beautifully sang the hymns of the festal divine services. At the Little Entrance, with the blessing of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, Archbishop Gabriel awarded Fr. Rostislav the right to wear the second orarion for his labors on behalf of the Holy Church.

On Sunday, July 16, upon completion of the Divine Liturgy, the abbot of Holy Protection Male Skete in Buena, NJ, Hieromonk Tikhon (Gayfudinov), went in procession – joined by parishioners bearing banners – to the adjacent cemetery, where they blessed the votive Cross."The Cross was erected in the 1970s, but since the church underwent a 20-year period without a standing parish, the Cross fell into a sorrowful state," said Fr. Tikhon. "The Cross was cleaned, and new plaster applied. One feels joy when he sees the difference: what was and what it became."

On Wednesday, July 12, the feast of the Holy Supreme Leaders of the Apostles Peter & Paul, after Divine Liturgy, a panihida was served at the gravesite of the ever-memorable Archbishop Andrew (Rymarenko) of Rockland, vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, on the 39th anniversary of his repose. Archbishop Andrew was the founder of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY. The panihida was served by the dean of the monastery’s St. Seraphim Cathedral, Archpriest Alexander Fedorowski.

On Wednesday, August 9 the brethren of Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV will celebrate the feast of their beloved Heavenly patron, the Holy Great-Martyr and Healer Panteleimon. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a festal moleben will be served, in thanksgiving to the holy martyr and in order to beseech his continued aid and protection throughout the coming year.

On Saturday, July 8, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, began a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Russia. The pilgrimage was organized in conjunction with the centennial of the beginning of the godless persecution and the decennial of the Reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church with the Russian Church Abroad. Upon his arrival in Moscow, His Eminence prayed in Cathedral of Christ the Savior before the relics of the Holy Hierarch and Wonderworker Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, which after its time in the Russian capital will soon depart for St. Petersburg. Joined by a delegation, the Metropolitan also visited Holy Protection Monastery, where he venerated the relics of Blessed Matrona of Moscow.

The main Orthodox church in the Dominican Republic is the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (Misión de Nuestra Sra. Madre de Dios de Kazan), located in the town of Sosúa. Its rector graduated university and converted to Orthodoxy in Russia, and now ministers to Russians in the Caribbean Basin. Of course, the accommodations could hardly be called a church, but the local Orthodox faithful find them suitable enough. The parish was founded in 2008, and in October of the same year, during his visit to Costa Rica, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, ordained Rafael Martinez Gonzalez to the priesthood.

At the invitation of Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco & Western American, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, took part in the celebrations in honor of the feast day of the Holy Hierarch John, Wonderworker of Shanghai & San Francisco. This year, the celebrations began on Friday, June 30, and continued on Saturday, July 1. In 1994, at the glorification of the Holy Hierarch John, the Council of the Russian Church Abroad adopted a resolution to hold the celebrations in honor of the saint on the nearest Saturday to the day of his repose – Saturday, July 2, 1966.

On Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th of July, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan visited the Diocesan Center in Howell, NJ, for the celebrations in honor of the patronal feast day of Our Lady of Tikhvin Church. The church was built 81 years ago, and originally – before the construction of the new cathedral – had been consecrated in honor of the Holy Right-Believing Great Prince Alexander Nevsky.

Sunday, July 30, will mark the annual national St. Vladimir’s Day Celebrations, in honor of the Baptism of the Russian people into the Orthodox Christian Faith by St. Vladimir. In accordance with Diasporan tradition, the national celebrations in honor of St. Vladimir – the founder of Holy Russia and the first of the Russian saints ‒ will be held at St. Vladimir Memorial Churchin Jackson, NJ. The schedule of divine services, as well as information on local hotels for visitors, is now available on the diocesan website.

On Saturday, July 15, all four of the ROCOR Alabama mission parishes will be celebrating joint Matins and Divine Liturgy. This is the first such gathering of the missions in Alabama, all of which are relatively new additions to the Eastern American Diocese. Divine services will be held at St. John Cassian Mission in Bessemer, AL. All are invited, but help is appreciated; for more information, visit the Facebook event page here.

Deacon Andrei Psarev, teacher at Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY since 1995, is offering a subscription to his lectures: "History of the Russian Church Abroad," "History of the Russian Church," "Canon Law," and "History of the Byzantine Empire."

The Summer School of Liturgical Music will be holding its annual session at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY from July 9-22. The highly regarded three-year program is open to all wishing to obtain or improve their knowledge of the Russian Orthodox musical tradition.

Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan will lead a pilgrimage of clergy and laity to the Holy Land on August 1-14, 2017. The pilgrimage will begin with the patronal feast of the Russian Convent in honor of St. Mary Magdalene in Gethsemane, and will be dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the episcopal consecration of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus.